Off-grid site report
Barron County, WI
45.3999, -91.8512 · 1,109 ft elevationRead this before you act on anything below. This is my researched starting point for Barron County, WI, not legal advice and not a guarantee. Rules change, and the deciding facts on any specific parcel (setbacks, perc results, overlay districts, deed restrictions, road frontage) live at the county or town office, not in any database. Before you buy land or build, confirm the current rules directly with the local zoning and health offices - the sources on this page tell you exactly who to call.
The local rulesBarron County, WI
Zoning & raw-land occupancy
RestrictedBarron County administers a countywide Land Use Ordinance through its Zoning Office, with minimum lot standards and a Land Use Permit required before most structures are erected. Towns and incorporated municipalities may layer on additional, more specific rules. source
Dwellings, tiny homes & RVs
RestrictedThe county's ordinance defines RVs (capped at 400 sq ft) as not being dwellings and requires a separate Land Use Permit for them; tiny homes on foundations fall under standard UDC dwelling rules. No confirmed occupancy time limit for RVs was found. source
Building permits & codes
Generally allowedWisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code governs construction and is enforced locally; owners must contact the UDC Inspector for a building permit, and a Sanitary Permit must be on file before a Land Use Permit is issued. source
Septic & composting toilets
RestrictedSeptic systems fall under state POWTS code (SPS 383/384) enforced through the county Sanitary Ordinance; the Zoning Office's POWTS technician issues permits for conventional systems as well as privies and composting/incinerating toilets. source
Greywater reuse
Unclear - verifyNo Barron County document specifically addresses greywater reuse; the state DSPS plumbing code baseline likely applies. Confirm with the Zoning Office's POWTS technician.
Rainwater harvesting
Unclear - verifyNo county-specific rainwater harvesting rule was found; outdoor non-potable collection is generally understood to be unrestricted under the state baseline, while indoor/potable use would fall under DSPS plumbing code.
Private wells & water rights
Generally allowedWell construction permitting is handled by the Wisconsin DNR under NR 812, not the county; Barron County Environmental Health offers testing referrals but does not permit wells itself. source
Living disconnected from utilities
Unclear - verifyNo Barron County ordinance was found addressing whether a permitted dwelling can be disconnected from electric or gas utility service; confirm directly with the Zoning Office about any conditions tied to your permit.
Sun30-year normals
- Peak-sun hours, annual average
- 4.5 hrs/day
- Worst month (sizes an off-grid array)
- 2.6 hrs/day
- Yearly output per 1 kW of panels
- 1,332 kWh
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Weather1991-2020
- Precipitation
- 31 in/yr
- Snowfall
- 54 in/yr
- Heating degree days
- 8,598 (severe)
- Frost-free season
- May 8 to Sep 30
How far help isstraight-line
- Hospital
Mayo Clinic Health System - Northland - 0.6 mi
- Fire station
Barron City Fire Department - 0.1 mi
- Hardware store
Menards - 6.8 mi
- Grocery
Walmart Supercenter - 6.8 mi
From OpenStreetMap. Road miles will be longer, often much longer in hill country.
Plan this spot
These open with this location's real numbers already filled in (ZIP 54812).
Size a solar systemHeat loss & insulationFirewood per winterRainwater harvestGarden sizePanel tilt
Looking at a specific parcel in Barron County, WI?The rules above are the jurisdiction. The land check runs the parcel itself: flood zone, soils and septic suitability, wetlands, slope, access, climate, and these verdicts, from a parcel number or coordinates.
Check a parcel →Share or save this report:New report
Sources: US Census Bureau geocoder; NLR PVWatts v8 (solar); NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals (nearest station) or Open-Meteo (ZIP-centroid) for weather; Open-Elevation; OpenStreetMap contributors. Public data retrieved Aug 22, 2026; agencies update their layers on their own schedules. Planning data, not a survey or legal advice.
New here, or not sure where this fits? Start here walks through the whole thing in order.